New World - A New Beginning

ASTHIA DARCK'S POV:

Not a single moment was spared for rest as we traveled across the country in a convoy of carriages. Lio and Rena were both located on either side of the main carriage that held me and the two Imanian S-ranks.

I had never seen deers being used as saddled mounts, but I guess it made sense for the Fei. Considering Nethnore was a massive forest, an abundance of wildlife only seemed fitting.

The open grasslands that had been visible outside the small window of the carriage were slowly replaced with towering trunks that obstructed all view, their green leaves not even perceptible. We had been traveling for three straight days, and now, on the dusk of the final day, I began to see the outskirts of the capital: Feyfey.

I had never known why the Fei had named their capital like that... Maybe their race had been named after their main city?

"Negotiating with the Fei will be a lot more difficult than it was with King Roy," said Jean as she gazed longingly out of the window, resting her head on her hand.

"I know," I admitted. A rough idea on how to convince the royal family into helping had formed in my mind, but it wasn't pretty. To guarantee cooperation from our enemies... a demonstration was needed.

A showcase of the carnage that Jay could unleash.

"If we play our cards right, we could probably settle the negotiations with a duel," muttered Jean, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up, slightly puzzled by what she meant.

"Do you honestly think that would work?" I asked, the idea of the royal family basing their entire decision on a single fight seeming to be unrealistic.

"It worked before. When Jay came to Eloria in hopes of convincing King Roy to mobilize offensively, he managed to do so by beating me in a duel."

"I still can't believe you lost," joked Amelia.

"It felt like I was fighting more than one person at the end, though," confessed Jean. Her words stirred the slightest of emotions within me as I realized I had overlooked a detail that could determine the survival of all of Auroria.

The Integrate ability.

What would happen to me if I used it? Would I die immediately due to an inability to absorb the Elder Wyvern's powers? Or would I rise to a level of power that matched Jay's?

If the answer was the latter, then this meant that I'd be able to fight on equal terms with him.

"We're here," announced Rena as the carriages came to a halt, the female Fei dismounting off her deer and opening the door.

I stepped onto the fresh grass just as the silver rays of moonlight began to shine on the area, illuminating my surroundings and revealing the city that lay before me.

My eyes widened in awe at the sight, the Fei capital, unlike anything I had ever seen. The lush vegetation of the forest cut right at the edge of a giant lake, and in the middle of the massive area of water, residing on an island, lay Feyfey...

Its name put the majestic aura of the capital to shame as it brimmed with light, the golden lights reflecting off the spotless water. A single bridge connected the city to the forest and the various farms that resided around, opting to use the wildlife that surrounded them to supply the city rather than grow wheat and destroy the forest.

Soldiers clad in golden armor waited on the bridge, their organization and strength rivaling those of the Dragonkin.

"Welcome back, Lady Vye," said one of the Feis that was leading the battalion, bowing slightly with his hand placed on his chest.

"It's good to be back. Alert his Highness that the ambassadors have arrived," responded Rena.

"Very well," responded the captain, signaling his troops as two soldiers diverged from the main group to carry out the order. "Would you like me to escort our guests to the main palace?"

"There's no need for that. I'll take them myself."

"As you wish."

The guards moved to either side of the bridge, allowing us to pass through. I concealed my aura, making sure that all forms of hostility were erased from my physical presence. The bridge linking the mainland to the small island seemed to stretch out forever, but finally, we managed to reach the main gates of the city.

"Welcome, Asthia Darck," said Rena, officially welcoming me to the heart of Nethnore.

"Thank you."

We continued onwards, passing through a tunnel that took us through the gate that lay at the entrance of Feyfey. A tiny glimpse of light lay on the other end, and as we approached it, I began to feel small butterflies flying around in my stomach.

We breached through the end of the tunnel. I squinted at the sudden influx of movement and light, but my discomfort suddenly morphed into utter awe. Feis roamed the streets in pure white gowns, all of their faces serene as they idly chatted with each other, exchanging friendly waves every once in a while. There was no war here.

Even with the bulk of their armies defending their territory, the civilians lived their lives carefree, completely unaware of the disaster that was quickly approaching.

The golden buildings littered with large windows illuminated the streets, making the lights that were placed on the avenues seem obsolete.

"Let's go. I'll lead you to the palace," said Rena after giving me and the other two girls some time to revel in the glory of the city. I shook my head, snapping myself out of my trance.

"Of course."

I looked back, realizing Amelia was still stuck in place. I instantly grabbed her cheek with my hand, pulling her along as the pain brought her back to reality.

"Ow, ow, ow!" she exclaimed, catching up with me and slapping my hand away.

The trivial act caused small bits of laughter to arise within our group, and I even managed to catch a glimpse of Rena smiling slightly.

Maybe if the situation had been different, we could've all been friends...

Our group began to stand out from the rest of the civilians, causing lots of eyes to fall on us as they realized we were outsiders. Gasps and mutters began circulating the city as people recognized who I was, seeing the horns on my head as a direct threat to their existence.

None of us said anything, accepting the criticism that was sure to be running rampant behind our backs. Jean and Amelia had surely killed thousands of Feis, and seeing the horrified faces of the civilians was probably hurting them a lot more than it was hurting me.

We continued deeper into the city, finally reaching the glamorous palace that stood above the rest of the land. 

"The King has allowed you all to rest for the night. It's been a long journey," said Rena. How she was getting this information eluded me, but I gladly accepted her words.

"Thank you for your hospitality," I said again, making sure I was showing proper etiquette as a Princess in a foreign capital.

"Well, you're all here as ambassadors. The least we can do is provide you all with a room. The audience with His Majesty will take place tomorrow. Rest while you can, because tomorrow is going to be a long day for all of you."